Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Dangers & Annoyances
Don't let your desire to see Svalbard's symbol, the polar bear, blind you to the fact that a
close encounter with these iconic creatures rarely ends well. As the signs on the outskirts
of Longyearbyen attest, polar bears are a real danger almost everywhere in Svalbard. If
you're straying beyond Longyearbyen's confines, you're strongly advised to go with an or-
ganised tour. Walk leaders carry a gun and know how to use it. Standard equipment too,
especially if you're camping, are trip wires with flares and distress flares too - to fire at the
ground in front of the bear, not to summon help, which could be hours away. The last bear
fatality was in 2011 in the vicinity of the Von Post glacier, 40km from Longyearbyen. The
previous fatality, in 1995, happened only 2km from Longyearbyen…
Tours
For reasons of security and sheer logistics, it's difficult to arrange independent trips on
Svalbard and we endorse the governor's advice that you should book organised tours
through recognised operators. Fortunately, there's a huge range of options.
